Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday asked a court to revoke the Israeli citizenship of two Palestinian men convicted of terrorism offenses.

The effort appears to be the first use of a law enacted three years ago allowing the revocation of citizenship and subsequent deportation of Palestinian citizens who were convicted of certain violent crimes such as terrorism and received financial support from the Palestinian Authority as a reward.

Netanyahu filed court documents arguing that the severity of the crimes, along with payments the men reportedly received from a Palestinian Authority fund, justify pulling their citizenship and expelling them from the Jewish State.

The prime minister has long claimed the fund rewards violence, including attacks on civilians.

TRUMP SAYS HE WOULD ‘ABSOLUTELY’ REVOKE CITIZENSHIP FROM NATURALIZED CRIMINALS — IF HE HAS THE AUTHORITY

But Palestinian officials have contended that it is a safety net for the broad cross‑section of society with family members in Israeli detention. They also accused Netanyahu of focusing on the relatively small number of beneficiaries who carried out the attacks.

When the law passed, critics argued that it allowed Israel’s legal system to treat Jewish and Palestinian people differently. Civil rights groups said that basing a deportation law on Palestinian Authority payments effectively excluded Jewish Israelis, including settlers convicted of attacks against Palestinians, from the threat of losing their citizenship, as the statute targeted people of a certain race.

Netanyahu said this week that the government launched proceedings against the two men and that similar cases would be brought in the future.

TRUMP MEETS NETANYAHU, SAYS HE WANTS IRAN DEAL BUT REMINDS TEHRAN OF ‘MIDNIGHT HAMMER’ OPERATION

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a court to revoke the Israeli citizenship of two Palestinian men convicted of terrorism offenses. (YAIR SAGI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli officials said Mohamad Ahmad, a citizen from Jerusalem, was convicted of «offenses that constitute an act of terrorism and receiving funds in connection with terrorism.» He allegedly received payment after he was sentenced in 2002 for a shooting attack and served 23 years before his release in 2024.

Mohammed Ahmad Hussein al-Halsi was sentenced in 2016 to 18 years behind bars for stabbing elderly women. He also allegedly received payments while in prison.

Ahmad would be deported immediately, while al-Halsi would be removed upon his release, as individuals are subject to removal to Gaza once their sentences are complete under the 2023 law, which applies to citizens or permanent residents convicted of «committing an act that constitutes a breach of loyalty to the State of Israel,» including terrorism.

When the law passed, critics argued that it allowed Israel’s legal system to treat Jewish and Palestinian people differently. (REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File Photo)

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The general director of Israel’s Adalah legal center, Hassan Jabareen, called the move to use the law «a cynical propaganda move» by Netanyahu. He said stripping citizenship violated the most basic principles of the rule of law, including by acting against people who have completed prison sentences.

«The Israeli government is attempting to strip individuals of the very foundation through which all rights are protected, their nationality,» he said on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

El secretario de Energía estadounidense, Chris Wright, llegó a Venezuela el miércoles para presionar en favor de una revisión más audaz de la industria energética, y con ello deja claro que Estados Unidos podría utilizar su posición de coloso económico para lograr sus objetivos.

Wright es uno de los funcionarios estadounidenses de más alto rango que visita Venezuela en casi 30 años, lo que refleja cómo se están estrechando los lazos entre ambos países después de que las fuerzas estadounidenses capturaron en enero al exlíder de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, y lo trasladaron por la fuerza a Estados Unidos.

Leé también: La presidenta de Venezuela recibió al secretario de Energía de EE.UU. para avanzar con la reforma petrolera

A pesar de que la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela aprobó el mes pasado cambios radicales en la legislación que regula la industria petrolera, Wright dijo que deseaba que el gobierno venezolano fuera mucho más lejos en la apertura de su economía a las empresas energéticas extranjeras.

“La idea es utilizar la influencia para impulsar el progreso”, declaró Wright a los periodistas en Caracas, la capital, el miércoles. Sobre la nueva ley energética, dijo: “Es un paso significativo en la dirección correcta, probablemente en mi opinión no lo suficientemente lejos y claro como para fomentar los grandes flujos de capital que les gustaría ver”.

Algunos gigantes petroleros estadounidenses, como Exxon Mobil, cuyas operaciones en Venezuela fueron nacionalizadas hace dos décadas, han expresado su escepticismo sobre la posibilidad de volver a Venezuela, con los argumentos de los riesgos legales y la posibilidad de agitación política.

Aunque reconoció que se podría hacer más para atraer inversiones estadounidenses a Venezuela, Wright subrayó que las empresas petroleras internacionales suelen arriesgarse a hacer negocios en países con un historial de agitación porque es allí donde a menudo se encuentra el petróleo. Citó la “avalancha de inversiones” que se espera que llegue a Libia, controlada por dos facciones rivales.

Leé también: Delcy Rodríguez salió al cruce de María Corina Machado: “Cuando vuelva, tendrá que responder ante Venezuela”

Al comienzo de su visita de tres días, Wright se reunió con la sucesora de Maduro, la presidenta Delcy Rodríguez. Dijo que tenía previsto viajar con Rodríguez el jueves para ver de primera mano las operaciones de producción de petróleo.

Wright, exdirector ejecutivo de una empresa petrolera que está en el centro del auge de la fracturación hidráulica en Estados Unidos, valoró muy positivamente la voluntad de Rodríguez de introducir grandes cambios en la economía y el sistema político de Venezuela.

Dijo que Venezuela había realizado importantes esfuerzos para mejorar las condiciones económicas en las semanas transcurridas desde la captura de Maduro, quien presidió un desgarrador colapso económico. Además, Wright dijo que esperaba que Venezuela llegara a una transición hacia un sistema político más representativo.

Wright citó áreas en las que Venezuela podría progresar más para el desmantelamiento de su régimen autoritario y una alineación más estrecha con Estados Unidos, tras décadas de forjar alianzas con países que a menudo estaban enfrentados con Washington.

“Aquí todavía hay presos políticos en las cárceles”, dijo Wright, aludiendo a las cientos de personas que siguen detenidas tras la reciente liberación de otras. “Todavía tienen aquí relaciones con China, con Rusia, con Irán. Son cosas que hay que transicionar”.

La visita de Wright suscitó escepticismo en Caracas. Las fuerzas de seguridad abrieron el camino para que sus numerosos equipos de seguridad y comitiva recorrieran la ciudad, donde los murales siguen celebrando los vínculos de Venezuela con los dirigentes iraníes y cubanos.

Los cambios en Venezuela se están produciendo después de que Estados Unidos montara una campaña militar de meses de duración contra Maduro, que incluyó decenas de ataques mortales contra pequeñas embarcaciones que, según dijo el gobierno de Donald Trump, traficaban con drogas ilícitas. Trump ha advertido a Rodríguez que podría correr una suerte similar a la de Maduro si no coopera con Estados Unidos.

Después de reunirse con Rodríguez, ella y Wright respondieron brevemente a las preguntas de los periodistas fuera del palacio presidencial, una muestra de apertura inusual por parte de la nueva dirigente de Venezuela. Más tarde, Wright se reunió con periodistas extranjeros en el hotel JW Marriott.

“Una prensa libre”, dijo, “es una parte fundamental de una sociedad civil”.

*Simon Romero es corresponsal del Times en México, Centroamérica y el Caribe. Reside en Ciudad de México.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem warned Thursday that a lapse in funding for her department could disrupt airport security, disaster response and counterterrorism operations, escalating a partisan standoff in Congress over immigration policy.

Senate Democrats demanded stringent reforms to immigration enforcement and blocked multiple attempts Thursday to keep the agency open, though Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) only accounts for 11% of the bill’s funding, according to Noem.

Noem’s comments came as she joined U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks and Executive Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection Diane Sabatino in Otay Mesa, California, to discuss ongoing drug seizure operations.

Noem accused Democrats of sending «the wrong message,» arguing that failing to fund DHS undermines national security. Democrats have said the dispute centers on immigration enforcement policies, not disaster response or transportation security.

NOEM RIPS DEMS FOR USING FAMILIES AS ‘POLITICAL WEAPONS’ AS DHS FUNDING FIGHT THREATENS LIFE BEYOND ICE

She warned other DHS-funded agencies will see the impacts of the shutdown, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

«If we had some kind of an attack or a terrible disaster that hit our country, FEMA is the agency that’s responsible for running our government, for stabilizing our country — and the Democrat Party is choosing not to fund FEMA and putting us in jeopardy in that situation.»

According to DHS, disaster grant funding could be stuck due to the FEMA GO system being offline, National Fire Academy classes will be canceled, and preparedness exercises will be paused nationwide.

The housing market could also see disruptions, as federally-backed mortgages require national flood insurance, managed by FEMA.

Noem added that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, who keep the skies safe, will not be paid after Friday — leading to increased wait times at airports and safety concerns.

SENATE REPUBLICANS WEIGH DEM DEMAND TO SPLIT DHS BILL, TURN TO SHORT-TERM EXTENSION TO AVOID SHUTDOWN

«They’re expected to still show up. How long would you continue to show up for a job that you’re not being paid for,» she said. «These TSA employees just went through a 43-day shutdown where they weren’t paid. How often do you expect these good patriots to keep showing up and to do their job, knowing that their salaries won’t be taken care of and their families’ bills won’t be taken care of.»

The U.S. Secret Service (USSS), which is tasked with protecting current and former administration officials and visiting dignitaries, will also go unfunded, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, which is addressing winter weather impacts on the East Coast.

«The Coast Guard right now is keeping rivers open on the East Coast so that critical food and energy sources can get to our largest cities,» Noem said. «… What you’re saying by not funding the Coast Guard, is that the Democrat Party doesn’t think it’s important that people eat, or that they stay warm, or that our national security is protected.»

«This is a dangerous situation that we’re in, that the Democratic Party has chosen to shut down the department that was created after 9/11. This department was created recognizing that we are vulnerable to terrorist attacks,» she continued. «… We have responsibility for cyber operations … and going after terrorists who would attack our critical infrastructure, our electrical grid, our water systems, that would come in and hack into our intelligence agencies and our national security operations.»

KENNEDY CLAIMS ‘KAREN WING’ WILL PUNISH ANY DEMOCRAT WHO VOTES TO KEEP DHS OPEN AMID BUDGET STALL

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks speaks during a news conference with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, left, at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Thursday, in Otay Mesa, Calif. (Pool)

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office lacks legal authority to operate during the lapse, leaving biodetection and mail screening disrupted.

«The Democrat Party is choosing not to fund [DHS] and making us very vulnerable to those terrorists being successful here in our homeland,» Noem said. «I hope that they will come to their senses, recognize that the American people need to come first, and have a policy discussion.»

During Noem’s plea for critical funding, anti-ICE protesters gathered nearby chanting, «shame, shame» through megaphones, while blowing horns.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, released a statement Thursday afternoon, emphasizing the urgency of a deal.

SCHUMER ROLLS OUT LIST OF ICE DEMANDS AS WHITE HOUSE SAYS DEMS ‘BLOCKED’ DEAL-MAKING SESSION

Protesters held signs during a protest against immigration enforcement operations after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem spoke at the southern border Wednesday, in Nogales, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

«There will be a burden shouldered, and the cost will be paid by people who never asked to be part of the fight,» Cole wrote. «… And while all these consequences are slated to start tomorrow at midnight, Senate Democrats are still readying to get on a plane out of town — instead of focusing on completing the job they were elected to do. Flying home or abroad while leaving TSA in limbo isn’t the message of leadership I’d want to send.»

He added the House has «acted in good faith at every turn,» as the House and Senate previously struck a bipartisan and bicameral deal to finalize all Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills.

After helping negotiate the deal, Senate Democrats altered it at the last minute, undermining DHS funding.

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«The consequences are real, and the responsibility for them in this moment is clear,» Cole wrote.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus have demanded a list of reforms to ICE.

«The administration doesn’t actually want to reform ICE,» Schumer said. «They never do it on their own. That is why we need — we are fighting for — legislation to rein in ICE and stop the violence.»

The Democratic Strategic Communications Committee did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.